Dental prosthesis removal tool

ABSTRACT

A dental prosthesis removal tool includes a handle portion and a top portion, the top portion including a head portion and a beak portion. The beak portion is configured to engage both a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dental prosthesis without the tool needing to be reoriented. The dental prosthesis removal tool makes it possible for a dental prosthesis wearer to remove dental prostheses without the user placing his or her fingers inside of his or her mouth. The dental prosthesis removal tool also allows a denture wearer to remove dental prostheses without bending, work hardening, or breaking metal clasps contained in some dental prostheses. The dental prosthesis removal tool further allows a denture wearer to more comfortably remove his or her dental prosthesis, promoting better patient compliance with maintenance procedures and oral hygiene.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/543,523, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,152,525, filed on Aug. 19, 2009,entitled “Dental Prosthesis Removal Tool,” which is assigned to theassignee of the present application and which patent application isincorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a dental prosthesis removaltool.

Removable oral prostheses or dentures are used to restore either fullarch dentitions or partially edentulated dentitions. Complete full archdentures are typically fabricated in acrylic. They rely upon a balancedcombination of hard tissue and soft tissue support for retention.Removable partial dentures are fabricated with a chrome cobalt castmetal framework supporting acrylic saddles in the edentulated areas.They gain direct mechanical retention from clasping other teeth in thedental arch. Overdentures are acrylic prostheses similar to completedentures, but are retained by precision attachments, typically milledsnap mechanical retainers of various designs providing variableretention force. The precision attachments are placed on endodonticallytreated retained roots or dental implants.

In the past, proper denture removal techniques included placing one'sfingers along the acrylic flanges and pushing in the direction oppositethe dental ridge. Unfortunately, because fingers are poorly suited tofunction as dental removal tools, denture wearers were forced to usetheir fingernails to pull on the acrylic portion of the dentures, or inthe case of removable partial dentures, to pull on the cast metal claspsto dislodge the dentures. When this procedure is employed, over timethese metal clasps may become bent or work hardened and have a tendencyto break. Overdentures retained by precision attachments can be evenmore difficult to remove, requiring up to five pounds of force todislodge them, making them difficult to remove with a tool as poorlysuited for removal as a finger, especially for those with limited manualdexterity. Because of the difficulty of removing dentures, dentalpractitioners and clinicians were limited in how much retention forcethey could design the denture co provide.

Thus, it would be advantageous for denture wearers to be able to removetheir dentures without the need to place their fingers inside of theirmouths.

It would also be advantageous for those denture wearers with limitedmanual dexterity to be able to remove their dentures more easily and,again, without placing their fingers in their mouths.

It would be advantageous for dental practitioners and clinicians not tobe constrained by the difficulty of removing dentures when designing theamount of retention force that the denture will provide.

It would also be advantageous for a denture to be constructed ofsuitable material such that the denture be configured for customizationor alteration by a dental professional to better fit a specificsituation.

Further, it would be advantageous for denture wearers to have a way toremove dentures that would limit damage to the dentures includingreducing or eliminating bending, work hardening, or breaking of themetal clasps.

It would also be advantageous for denture wearers to have a dentureremoval tool with no moving parts to break or wear out.

It would further be advantageous for denture wearers to have a morecomfortable way to remove their dental prostheses, which would encouragebetter patient compliance with maintenance procedures, as well asimproved oral hygiene.

The dental prosthesis removal tool of the present invention must also beof a construction which is both durable and long lasting, and it shouldalso require little or no maintenance to be provided by the userthroughout its operating lifetime. In order to enhance the market appealof the dental prosthesis removal tool of the present invention, the toolshould also be of relatively inexpensive construction to thereby affordit the broadest possible market. Finally, it is also an objective thatall of the aforesaid advantages and objectives of the dental prosthesisremoval tool of the present invention be achieved without incurring anysubstantial relative disadvantage.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the dental prosthesis removal tool of the presentinvention is described below. The dental prosthesis removal tool is forremoving both the maxillary and mandibular dental prostheses of a user.The tool includes a handle portion, a top portion, and a transitionportion coupling the handle portion to the top portion. The top portionalso includes a head portion coupled to a beak portion. The beak portionalso includes a maxillary dental prosthesis engaging portion and amandibular dental prosthesis engaging portion. The beak portion isconfigured to engage and remove both the maxillary dental prosthesis andthe mandibular dental prosthesis without the user reorienting the dentalprosthesis relative to either a jaw or a hand of the user.

The dental prosthesis removal tool may be made of injection moldedplastic or other materials. The dental prosthesis removal tool maycontain a toothbrush or a rubber tip stimulator.

The dental prosthesis removal tool is able to remove overdenturesretained by snap-fitting snap-fit anchors implanted in the jaw of thedenture wearer, as well as dentures retained by good fit or denturepaste.

The dental prosthesis removal tool of the present invention is of aconstruction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should alsorequire little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughoutits operating lifetime. The dental prosthesis removal tool of thepresent invention is also of relatively inexpensive construction toenhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possiblemarket. Finally, the dental prosthesis removal tool of the presentinvention achieves all of the aforesaid advantages and objectiveswithout incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other advantages of the present invention are best understoodwith reference to the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an embodiment of the dental prosthesisremoval tool of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view of the dental prosthesis removaltool illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front partial cross-sectional view of the dental prosthesisremoval tool illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is an isometric front view of a maxillary denture located insidea denture wearer's mouth;

FIG. 5 is an isometric front view of a mandibular denture located insidea denture wearer's mouth;

FIG. 6 is an isometric front view of the dental prosthesis removal toolof FIGS. 1-3 engaging the maxillary denture of FIG. 4 located inside adenture wearer's mouth;

FIG. 7 is an isometric front view of the dental prosthesis removal toolof FIGS. 1-3 and 6 engaging the mandibular denture of FIG. 4 locatedinside a denture wearer's mouth;

FIG. 8 is an isometric, close-up, side view of the dental prosthesisremoval tool of FIGS. 1-3, 6, and 7 engaging a partial cross-section ofa maxillary denture in engagement with a denture wearer's mouth inpreparation for denture removal;

FIG. 9 is an isometric, close-up, side view of the dental prosthesisremoval tool of FIGS. 1-3 and 6-8 removing a partial cross-section of amaxillary denture from engagement with a denture wearer's mouth using adownward pulling motion away from the maxillary jaw;

FIG. 10 is an isometric, close-up, side view of the dental prosthesisremoval tool of FIGS. 1-3 and 6-9 engaging a partial cross-section of amandibular denture in engagement with a denture wearer's mouth inpreparation for denture removal;

FIG. 11 is an isometric, close-up, side view of the dental prosthesisremoval tool of FIGS. 1-3 and 6-10 removing a partial cross-section of amandibular denture from engagement with a denture wearer's mouth usingan upward pushing motion away from the mandibular jaw;

FIG. 12 is an isometric view of a second embodiment of the dentalprosthesis removal tool of the present invention having a differentlyshaped head and a handle that includes a toothbrush;

FIG. 13 is a side plan view of the dental prosthesis removal tool ofFIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a front partial cross-sectional view of the second embodimentof the dental prosthesis removal tool of FIGS. 12 and 13; and

FIG. 15 is an isometric view of a third embodiment of the dentalprosthesis removal tool of the present invention having a rubber tipstimulator coupled to the handle of the dental prosthesis removal tool.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

An exemplary dental prosthesis removal tool 100 is illustrated inFIG. 1. The dental prosthesis removal tool 100 may be formed frominjection molded plastic in a process that is much like the manufactureof a toothbrush. Other methods of making the dental prosthesis removaltool 100 may instead be used including making the dental prosthesisremoval tool 100 in a single pull mold. Other materials may be used aswell, including various metals and composites, as well as combinationsthereof. These are mentioned only as examples and are not meant to limitthe invention as various other materials could instead be used.

As will be further described below, the dental prosthesis removal tool100 is designed to be used by a denture wearer to assist in easilyremoving either or both maxillary and mandibular dentures. It isintended that the user be able to hold the handle of the dentalprosthesis removal tool 100 and be able to remove both maxillary andmandibular dentures without the user changing his or her grip on thehandle or reconfiguring the orientation of the dental prosthesis removaltool 100 in relation to the user's hand or mouth. In one embodiment ofthe present invention, the dental prosthesis removal tool 100 isintended to be used to remove dentures by engaging the dentures at ornear the front of the mouth; however, other embodiments could insteadremoving dentures by engaging the dentures at other locations.

In FIG. 1 an embodiment of the dental prosthesis removal tool 100comprises a handle portion 102 and a top portion 104. The handle portion102 can be of any shape that is conducive to gripping by a user. In theembodiment of the dental prosthesis removal tool 100 shown, the handleportion 102 is of a generally cylindrical shape. Many configurations ofthe handle portion 102 are envisioned, including a slender toothbrushstyle as well as larger bulbous styles allowing for ease of gripping, aswell as many other sizes and styles.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the handle portion 102 includes ahand portion 106, which extends from the bottom end 108 of the dentalprosthesis removal tool 100 to a junction 110, a finger portion 112,which extends from a junction 114 to a junction 116, and a thumb portion118, which extends from the junction 110 to a junction 120. The fingerportion 112 is generally an arcuate depression in the handle portion 102that is configured to receive a user's finger or fingers and providebetter leverage and grip for the user's finger or fingers. Likewise, thethumb portion 118 is an arcuate depression in the handle portion 102,approximately on the opposite side of the handle portion 102 from thefinger portion 112, configured to receive a user's thumb and to providebetter leverage and grip for the user's thumb. These arcuate depressionscan be of various depths and slopes configured to accommodate alldifferent sizes and shapes of hands. Other grip-assisting methods andconfigurations are also envisioned.

In one embodiment of the dental prosthesis removal tool 100, the handleportion 102 is coupled to the top portion 104 by way of a transitionportion 122. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the transition portion 122has two surfaces, illustrated best in FIG. 2, including a finger portionside surface 121 and a thumb portion side surface 123. The transitionportion 122 begins at the junction 120 on the thumb portion 118 side ofthe dental prosthesis removal tool 100 and ends at the junction 126,while on the finger portion 112 side of the dental prosthesis removaltool 100 the transition portion 122 begins at the junction 116 andcontinues to the junction 128. The finger portion side surface 121slopes gradually inward from the junction 116 to the junction 128, whilethe thumb portion side surface 123 slopes at a substantially greaterangle inward from the junction 120 to the junction 130, and then theangle inward decreases from the junction 130 to the junction 126. Thegreater angle inward portion from the junction 120 to the junction 130allows a denture wearer to position the dental prosthesis removal tool100 into operable contact with dentures (not shown in FIGS. 1 and 2)more easily and to allow better access around the denture wearers lip toa mandibular denture. The transition portion 122 terminates at the topportion 104 of the dental prosthesis removal tool 100.

Continuing with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the top portion 104 of oneembodiment of the dental prosthesis removal tool 100 comprises a headportion 132 and a beak portion 134 extending generally laterally fromthe head portion 132. The head portion 132 is a generally rounded arcthat terminates at a junction 136, and the beak portion 134 begins atthis junction 136. With reference primarily to FIG. 2, a generallynon-arcuate attachment portion 137 slopes sharply downwardly from thehead portion 132 towards the handle portion 102 and extends from thejunction 136 to a low point at the junction 138. A mandibular engagementportion 142 extends from the attachment portion 137 at the junction 138.The mandibular engagement portion 142 extends from the junction 138 tothe junction 140, and is generally shaped to facilitate engagement withthe mandibular denture. The mandibular engagement portion 142 isgenerally concave, and extends up to a local maximum at the junction140, creating a hooked shape that is well-suited to engage a manibulardenture, and, as will be discussed further below, maintain engagementwith the manibular denture when the force necessary to remove thedenture is applied in a direction away from the mandible by the denturewearer.

The beak portion 134 continues from the junction 140 and generally hooksdown and around slightly back toward the head portion 132 to reach ajunction 144, at which point a maxillary denture engagement portion 146begins which extends from the junction 144 to a junction 148 at the headportion 132. The maxillary denture engagement portion 146 is generallyconcave, but from the junction 144 to a junction 150 the maxillarydenture engagement portion 146 has a greater angle of concavity than itdoes from the junction 150 to the junction 148. This greater angle ofconcavity allows the maxillary denture engagement portion 146 to bewell-suited to engage the top of a maxillary denture and maintainengagement as a denture wearer applies force in a direction towards themandible to remove the maxillary denture.

With reference to FIG. 3, in one embodiment of the present invention,the head portion 132 preferably has a greater radius than the beakportion 134, which can help to facilitate denture removal, though manyother configurations are envisioned.

FIG. 4 illustrates a maxillary denture inside of a denture wearer'smouth. Typically, to remove a maxillary denture, a denture wearer wouldneed to provide a force on an upper edge 151 of the denture using afinger. However, because of the configuration of a denture wearer'supper lip 152, it is difficult to position a finger in operable contactwith the upper edge 151.

Similarly, FIG. 5 shows a mandibular denture with a lower edge 154. Adenture wearer typically must position a finger in operable contact withlower edge 154 to remove the mandibular denture, but again theconfiguration of a denture wearer's lower lip 156 makes this difficultand uncomfortable.

FIG. 6 illustrates the dental prosthesis removal tool 100 in engagementwith the upper edge 151 of a maxillary denture inside of denturewearer's mouth. The dental prosthesis removal tool 100 is well-suited toreach beneath the upper lip 152 of a denture wearer and be easily placedin operative engagement with a maxillary denture of a denture wearer.

Similarly, FIG. 7 illustrates the dental prosthesis removal tool 100 inoperative engagement with the lower edge 154 of a mandibular dentureinside of a denture wearer's mouth. The dental prosthesis removal toolis well-suited to reach over the lower lip 156 of a denture wearer andeasily operably engage the lower edge 154 of a denture wearer'smandibular denture.

The finger portion 112 is illustrated in both FIGS. 6 and 7 as beingoriented on the side of is the dental prosthesis removal tool 100opposite the denture wearer's upper 152 and lower 156 lips, while thethumb portion 118 (not shown in FIGS. 6 and 7) is located on the side ofthe dental prosthesis removal tool 100 facing the denture wearer's upper152 and lower 156 lips. Further, the top portion 104 of the dentalprosthesis removal tool 100 is proximate to the denture (maxillary ormandibular) being removed, while the bottom end 108 is distal from thedenture (maxillary or mandibular) being removed. The orientation of thedental prosthesis removal tool 100 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 is maintainedwhen removing either of the two different dentures, so a denture weareris able remove both the maxillary and mandibular dentures withoutchanging the orientation of the dental prosthesis removal tool 100 orthe position of the denture wearer's hand on the dental prosthesisremoval tool 100.

FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a close-up, partial cross-sectional view of thedental prosthesis removal tool 100 in operative engagement with amaxillary denture 158, with the upper edge 151 located inside of themouth of a denture wearer. The junction 144 and the maxillary dentureengagement portion 146 engage the upper edge 151, and because of thegenerally concave shape of the junction 144 and maxillary dentureengagement portion 146, the dental prosthesis removal tool 100 is heldin operative engagement with the maxillary denture when a pulling forceis applied by a denture wearer in the direction of the mandible asillustrated in FIG. 9. Preferably, the dental prosthesis removal tool100 remains in operative contact with the maxillary denture 158throughout disengagement of the maxillary denture 158, pulling themaxillary denture 158 away from engagement with the denture wearer'smouth.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate a close-up, partial cross-sectional view ofthe dental prosthesis removal tool 100 in operative engagement with amandibular denture 160, with the lower edge 154 located inside of themouth of a denture wearer. The junction 140 and the mandibularengagement portion 142 engage the lower edge 154 of the mandibulardenture 160, and because of the generally concave shape of the junction140 and mandibular engagement portion 142, the dental prosthesis removaltool 100 is held in operative engagement with the mandibular denturewhen a pushing force is applied by a denture wearer in a direction awayfrom the mandible as illustrated in FIG. 11. Preferably the dentalprosthesis removal tool 100 remains in operative contact with themandibular denture 160 throughout disengagement of the mandibulardenture 160, lifting the mandibular denture 160 away from engagementwith the denture wearer's mouth.

FIGS. 10 and 11 also illustrate the need for the steep slope of thethumb portion side surface 123. Because of the angle at which the dentalprosthesis removal tool 100 must be inserted into a denture wearer'smouth to make operative contact with the lower edge 154 of themandibular denture 160, as well as the configuration of the denturewearer's lower lip 156, this steep slope of the thumb portion sidesurface 123 allows the dental prosthesis removal tool 100 to reach overand around the lower lip 156 to engage the lower edge 154 of the denturewearer's mandibular denture 160.

FIGS. 8-11 illustrate dentures retained in the mouth through good fit ordenture paste. However, these merely two examples of the type ofdentures that the dental prosthesis removal tool of the presentinvention could operate on and remove. The dental prosthesis removaltool of the present invention is also capable of removing dentures thatare retained through snap mating with snap anchors implanted in themaxillary and mandibular jaws. The dental prosthesis removal tool of thepresent invention would engage with and remove dentures retained by snapmating in the same way as it removes dentures as illustrated in FIGS.8-11. The dental prosthesis removal tool is particularly well-suited toengage and remove these snap mating dentures for all the reasonsdescribed above.

FIG. 12 illustrates a second embodiment of a dental prosthesis removaltool 200. The dental prosthesis removal tool 200 differs from the dentalprosthesis removal tool 100 in several significant ways. Elements of thedental prosthesis removal tool 200 that are similar to elements of thedental prosthesis removal tool 100 are given, similar referencenumerals, but in the 200 series instead of in the 100 series. First,with reference to a top portion 204, a head portion 232 does not extendto as high a local maximum as does the corresponding head portion 132 inthe dental prosthesis removal tool 100. Also, an attachment portion 237that attaches the head portion 232 to a mandibular engagement portion242 has a much more gentle slope than the corresponding attachmentportion 137 in the dental prosthesis removal tool 100. The mandibularengagement portion 242 also has a more gentle slope that engagementportion 142 in the dental prosthesis removal tool 100. A junction 240which ends the mandibular engagement portion 242 is subsequently a lowerlocal maximum than is the corresponding junction 140 in the dentalprosthesis removal tool 100. A junction 244 also does not extend as farout from a beak portion 234 as the corresponding junction 144 in thedental prosthesis removal tool 100, giving a maxillary engagementportion 246 less of a hooked end. This is only one of many otherpossible alternate configurations of the top portion 204 of the dentalprosthesis removal tool of the present invention. Many other slopes andconfigurations are envisioned to suit many different mouths and manydifferent needs. The configuration of the second embodiment 200 is shownonly as an example of such other possible configurations and is notmeant to limit the present invention in any way.

Finally, a handle portion 202 proximate a bottom end 208 has bristlesthat are coupled to and extend outwardly from the handle portion 202 toform a toothbrush 262. The toothbrush 262 may be on any side of thehandle portion 202. In FIG. 12, the toothbrush 262 is shown as extendingfrom the same side as does the beak portion 234.

FIG. 14 illustrates a partial cross-section of the second embodiment 200of the present invention.

FIG. 15 illustrates a third embodiment of a dental prosthesis removaltool 300 having a beak portion 334. A rubber tip stimulator 362 iscoupled to and extends outwardly from a handle portion 302. It isenvisioned that the rubber tip stimulator 362 could extend outwardlyfrom the handle portion 302 in any direction. FIG. 15 illustrates therubber tip stimulator 362 extending from the handle portion 302 in thesame direction as does the beak portion 334.

For purposes of this disclosure, “dentures” includes overdentures,removable partial dentures, partially edentulated dentitions, completefull arch dentures, and all other types of dentures that one skilled inthe art would recognize as being equivalent to or substitutes for thedentures listed above that are capable of being removed using the dentalprosthesis removal tool of the present invention.

For purposes of this disclosure, the term “coupled” means the mechanicaljoining of two components directly or indirectly to one another. Suchjoining may be stationary in nature or moveable in nature. Such joiningmay be achieved with the two components and any additional intermediatemembers being integrally formed as a single unitary body with oneanother or the two components and any such additional member beingattached to one another. Such adjoining may be permanent in nature oralternatively be removable or releasable in nature.

The dental prosthesis removal tool of the present invention is of aconstruction which is both durable and long lasting, and it should alsorequire little or no maintenance to be provided by the user throughoutits operating lifetime. The dental prosthesis removal tool of thepresent invention is also of relatively inexpensive construction toenhance its market appeal and to thereby afford it the broadest possiblemarket. Finally, the dental prosthesis removal tool of the presentinvention achieves all of the aforesaid advantages and objectiveswithout incurring any substantial relative disadvantage.

Although the foregoing description of the dental prosthesis removal tooland method of the present invention has been shown and described withreference to particular embodiments and applications thereof, it hasbeen presented for purposes of illustration and description and is notintended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the particularembodiments and applications disclosed. It will be apparent to thosehaving ordinary skill in the art that a number of changes,modifications, variations, or alterations to the invention as describedherein may be made, none of which depart from the spirit or scope of thedental prosthesis removal tool and method of the present invention. Theparticular embodiments and applications were chosen and described toprovide the best illustration of the principles of the invention and itspractical application to thereby enable one of ordinary skill in the artto utilize the invention in various embodiments and with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. All suchchanges, modifications, variations, and alterations should therefore beseen as being within the scope of the dental prosthesis removal tool andmethod of the present invention as determined by the appended claimswhen interpreted in accordance with the breadth to which they arefairly, legally, and equitably entitled.

1. A tool for removing a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibulardental prosthesis, the tool comprising: a member having a handle portionat a first end thereof, a top portion at a second opposite end thereof,and a transition portion located intermediate the handle portion and thetop portion, the top portion having a head portion located at an end ofthe top portion distal from the transition portion; and a beak portionextending generally laterally directly from the head portion, the beakportion comprising an upper surface and a lower surface opposite theupper surface, the upper surface including a downwardly sloping portionsloping downwardly directly from the head portion from an upper head endof the beak to a first junction and an upwardly sloping portion slopingupwardly from the first junction away from the head portion to an upperterminal end of the beak, the upper surface being generally concavetoward the lower surface, the lower surface including an upwardlysloping portion sloping upwardly directly from the head portion from alower head end of the beak to a second junction and a downwardly slopingportion sloping downwardly from the second junction away from the headportion to a lower terminal end of the beak, the lower surface beinggenerally concave toward the upper surface, the upper and lower surfacesconfigured such that the thickness of the beak portion measured parallelto a longitudinal axis of the handle portion is less at the firstjunction than proximate the head portion between the upper head end andthe lower head end is greater than the thickness between the upperterminal end and the lower terminal end; the upper surface beingconfigured to engage the mandibular dental prosthesis; the lower surfacebeing configured to engage the maxillary dental prosthesis; wherein themaxillary dental prosthesis may be removed by orienting the member in afirst orientation relative to a user, engaging the maxillary dentalprosthesis with the lower surface of the beak portion and pulling thehandle downwardly away from a maxillary jaw; and wherein the mandibulardental prosthesis may be removed, while maintaining the member in thefirst orientation relative to the user, by engaging the mandibulardental prosthesis with the upper surface of the beak portion and pushingthe handle upwardly away from a mandibular jaw.
 2. The tool for removinga maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dental prosthesis ofclaim 1, wherein the member is made of injection molded plasticmaterial.
 3. The tool for removing a maxillary dental prosthesis and amandibular dental prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the handle portionfurther comprises a toothbrush.
 4. The tool for removing a maxillarydental prosthesis and a mandibular dental prosthesis of claim 1, whereinthe thickness of the beak portion measured parallel to the longitudinalaxis is less at the second junction than proximate the head portion. 5.The tool for removing a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibulardental prosthesis of claim 1, wherein the slopes of the upper surfaceand the lower surface are different angle of concavity of the downwardlysloping portion of the lower surface is greater than the angle ofconcavity of the upwardly sloping portion of the lower surface.
 6. Atool for removing a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dentalprosthesis, the tool comprising: a handle portion having a proximal endand a distal end, the handle portion having a longitudinal axis; a topportion having a proximal end and a distal end, the top portion having ahead portion located at the distal proximal end of the top portion; theproximal end of the handle portion being coupled to the proximal distalend of the top portion; and an extending portion having a first end anda second end, the first end configured being proximate the head portion,the extending portion having an upper surface and a lower surface, theextending portion having a thickness parallel to the longitudinal axisthat is greater proximate the head portion than at a location betweenthe first end and the second end, the extending portion having athickness parallel to the longitudinal axis that is greater proximatethe second end than at the location between the first end and the secondend; the upper surface being configured to engage and remove themandibular dental prosthesis with the dental prostheses removal tool ina first configuration relative to a user; and the lower surface beingconfigured to engage and remove the maxillary dental prosthesis with thedental prostheses removal tool in the first configuration relative tothe user without the user reorienting the dental prostheses removal toolrelative to a hand of the user; wherein the upper surface includes adownwardly sloping portion sloping downwardly directly from the headportion at an upper head end of the extending portion to the locationbetween the first end and the second end and an upwardly sloping portionfrom the location between the first end and the second end to an upperterminal end of the extending portion; and wherein the lower surfaceincludes an upwardly sloping portion sloping upwardly directly from thehead portion at a lower head end of the extending portion to thelocation between the first end and the second end and a downwardlysloping portion from the location between the first end and the secondend to a lower terminal end of the extending portion; the upper andlower surfaces configured such that the thickness between the upper headend and the lower head end is greater than the thickness between theupper terminal end and the lower terminal end; wherein the upper surfaceis generally concave in a direction towards the handle portion.
 7. Thetool for removing a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dentalprosthesis of claim 6, wherein the handle portion comprises: an arcuatedepression in the handle portion defining a thumb portion configured toreceive a user's thumb thereupon when the dental prosthesis removal toolis being used; and an arcuate depression in the handle portion defininga finger portion configured to receive a user's finger thereupon whenthe dental prosthesis removal tool is being used, the finger portionbeing on a side of the handle portion opposite the thumb portion.
 8. Thetool for removing a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dentalprosthesis of claim 7, wherein the extending portion extends from thesame side of the dental prosthesis removal tool on which the thumbportion is located.
 9. The tool for removing a maxillary dentalprosthesis and a mandibular dental prosthesis of claim 6, wherein thedental prostheses removal tool is made of injection molded plasticmaterial.
 10. The tool for removing a maxillary dental prosthesis and amandibular dental prosthesis of claim 6, comprising: one of a toothbrushand a rubber tip stimulator coupled with the handle portion.
 11. A toolfor removing a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dentalprosthesis of a user, the tool comprising: a graspable member includinga graspable portion and a transition portion, the graspable portionextending from a proximal end to a distal end along a longitudinal axis,having a thumb side and an opposing finger side, and being graspable bya user proximate the proximal end; an extending portion extending alonga plane intersecting with the longitudinal axis at a nonzero angle, theextending portion extending generally laterally directly from the distalend of the graspable member on one of the finger side and the thumbside, the extending portion comprising: an upper surface and a lowersurface opposite the upper surface, the upper surface including adownwardly sloping portion sloping downwardly directly from the distalend of the graspable member from a first upper end to a first junctionand an upwardly sloping portion sloping upwardly from the first junctionaway from the graspable member to a second upper end forming a terminalend of the upper surface, the upper surface being generally concavetoward the plane intersecting with the longitudinal axis at a nonzeroangle, the lower surface including an upwardly sloping portion slopingupwardly away from the graspable member from a first lower end to asecond junction and a downwardly sloping portion sloping downwardly fromthe second junction away from the graspable member to a second lower endforming a terminal end of the lower surface; wherein both of the upperand lower surfaces are located on the one of the finger side and thethumb side; the upper and lower surfaces configured such that thethickness between the first upper end and the first lower end is greaterthan the thickness between the second upper end and the second lowerend; wherein the lower surface of the extending portion is configured toengage and remove a maxillary dental prosthesis and the upper surface ofthe extending portion is configured to engage and remove a mandibulardental prosthesis.
 12. The tool for removing a maxillary dentalprosthesis and a mandibular dental prosthesis of claim 11, wherein thelower surface is generally concave toward the plane.
 13. The tool forremoving a maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dentalprosthesis of claim 11, wherein the extending portion has a thicknessperpendicular to the plane that is greater less thick at the firstjunction than proximate the graspable member.
 14. The tool for removinga maxillary dental prosthesis and a mandibular dental prosthesis ofclaim 11, wherein the tool is configured to remove both the maxillaryand mandibular prostheses without being reoriented relative to the user.